Green Tea? She's Clearly a Hidden Gem!

On the 452nd day of courting the Department Head, progress was touching, yet the Reward Card remained unclaimed.

But Jiang Linyuan remained brimming with confidence.

For someone like Shen Wanyu, romance wasn't about showering her with roses or whispering sweet nothings.

Instead, it was the occasional flash of brilliance in simple companionship, a touch of surprise, the steadfastness of her beliefs...

Jiang Linyuan considered himself an incredibly romantic person.

Sooner or later, he would make Shen Wanyu herself shout:

"Jiang Linyuan, I like you, you're mine!"

Sitting in the meeting room, Jiang Linyuan thought with such confidence.

Today was the External Liaison Department's weekly routine meeting, where various activities, big and small, would be discussed as per usual.

"Wow, it's so cold tonight, Senior. Did Jinling's temperature drop this much? It was still hot during the day."

Lin Yilin walked into the meeting room, naturally sitting beside Jiang Linyuan, striking up a conversation.

Jiang Linyuan pointed at the table in the corner of the room:

"There's some milk tea I just bought over there. Grab one to warm yourself up."

Lin Yilin felt a surge of joy at first, looked over, but upon seeing several cups on the table, she got a bit sulky:

"Senior bought these for the whole department, right? I'll wait until everyone's here before taking one. Taking it early feels a bit awkward."

"Really? And here I went out of my way to buy a cup of Mint Green Milk Tea. Too bad if someone else snatches it up."

Jiang Linyuan said flatly.

Mint Green Milk Tea, Xiao Yilin's favorite flavor.

Hehe, he just loved seeing her put on that fake proper act. So fun.

Hearing this, Lin Yilin's little eyes darted around:

"Senior, how can you do that? Not everyone likes Mint Green Milk Tea. What if someone thinks it tastes bad?"

"Yeah, what then?"

Jiang Linyuan said with a smile.

Lin Yilin realized she'd been teased again, glared at Jiang Linyuan, then trotted over and grabbed the milk tea:

"I'll help Senior distribute the milk tea. That way, everyone can just drink it once they're seated."

With that, she arranged the cups all by herself, face not even flushing, and unashamedly placed the Mint Green Milk Tea right in front of her seat.

Jiang Linyuan couldn't help but laugh out loud.

So fun.

Lin Yilin was already feeling embarrassed, and that laugh made her even more flustered. She glared at Jiang Linyuan with a red face.

Then she lowered her head, bit the straw, hugged the milk tea, and pretended nothing happened.

Soon, the rest of the External Liaison Department trickled in one by one.

"Oh! There's milk tea! Thanks, Deputy Minister Jiang!"

That was the normal response, skipped.

"Huh? Milk tea? Half sugar? I like seventy percent sweetness more, but thanks anyway, Deputy Minister Jiang!"

That was the low-EQ response. He'd make sure to give that person the shitty work later.

"Thanks, Minister Jiang, for treating everyone to milk tea."

That was the high-EQ response. That seat was yours from now on.

"Quiet down, everyone."

Who's the rebel here? Drag them out! How dare they throw their weight around on his turf! Did you buy the milk tea?! 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Jiang Linyuan looked up, meeting Shen Wanyu's calm face.

Stupid Department Head, you've already lost the people's hearts. Your title of Department Head exists in name only.

This External Liaison Department was his kingdom!

Shen Wanyu furrowed her brows:

"Keep daydreaming like that, and I won't approve the reimbursement for your milk tea."

"Department Head, I was just complimenting you in my head."

Jiang Linyuan said.

So what if you could read minds!

Shen Wanyu ignored him, swept her gaze around, and calmly stated the purpose of the meeting:

"In a little while, the school is going to hold a music festival. Everyone needs to be prepared."

A music festival? At this time?

Hadn't the sports meet just ended not long ago? Was the school this energetic?

Jiang Linyuan thought to himself with a frown.

"This music festival was proposed by a sponsor to the school. The funds are all provided by her. The school also wants to use this opportunity for publicity, so they agreed."

Where did this big-money backer come from? This was probably going to be a difficult person to deal with. Time to be an overworked beast again.

"The sponsor is a businesswoman. Her husband's surname is Bai."

Shen Wanyu glanced at Jiang Linyuan.

Hiss!

He sucked in a sharp breath, contributing to the fight against global warming.

So this was what that Director Bai's apology meant back then? Was he sending performance merits to the Vice Principal?

"That's all for today's meeting. I'll send the details to the group chat. If you have any questions, ask Deputy Minister Jiang."

Shen Wanyu dropped her classic line, grabbed her bag, and left alone.

The others in the External Liaison Department didn't mind. After all this time, they dealt with Jiang Linyuan the most.

They were used to it.

Jiang Linyuan gave a few simple instructions, they divided up the work, and soon, everyone dispersed.

Only Lin Yilin stood by the door, holding her bag, waiting for Jiang Linyuan.

"Aren't you going back to your dorm in this cold?"

Jiang Linyuan finished tidying up the meeting room and looked at Lin Yilin, who was staring blankly at the ceiling. He asked with a smile.

"With the CET-4 and CET-6 coming up soon, there's something I wanted to ask you, Senior. So I'm waiting for you."

Lin Yilin lowered her head and spoke softly when she saw him come out.

"If you're taking CET-4, Xiao Yilin, you're only a freshman. No need to worry. Your English foundation is still there. Just get a little familiar with the exam format."

"Mhm mhm mhm. So Senior, you're going to take CET-6 now, right..."

"Yeah, actually, with my current English level, I should be the one asking Xiao Yilin for advice..."

"Really? Then I can go study with Senior at the library on Saturday..."

The two walked and talked, starting from the CET-4 and CET-6 exams and moving on to everyday little things in their lives.

"Senior, I heard from my roommate that if you don't get into a relationship in your freshman year, you'll stay single for all four years of college. Is that true or false?"

Lin Yilin suddenly brought up the topic of love.

"It depends on the person."

Jiang Linyuan said.

When it came to dating, it really depended on one's personality. Some people got into relationships one after another, while others could only jerk off and whine.

"Oh."

Lin Yilin replied, kicking a pebble on the roadside, then suddenly asked:

"Senior, aren't you planning to date anyone?"

"I want to, but as you've seen, my confessions have almost all been rejected. Sigh."

"That's because Senior is looking in the wrong places."

Lin Yilin subconsciously retorted, but quickly realized she had spoken too fast. Blushing, she explained:

"I mean, Senior always goes after girls with bad character, that's why you get rejected!"

Jiang Linyuan put on a lovesick expression:

"What can I do? It's not like I can help who I like."

Lin Yilin pouted:

"Like, like. Senior's 'liking' is way too cheap. You like one person, then another—first Liu Tingting, then Yu Songsong..."

"Sigh, the beating of my heart is something I can't control. Liking someone is just like that, Xiao Yilin."

Jiang Linyuan said.

Lin Yilin stopped in her tracks, looked up at him, her eyes especially bright under the streetlamp:

"I really hate the way Senior 'likes' people."

Jiang Linyuan didn't say anything.

Ah, he hadn't seen this serious side of Xiao Yilin in a long time. A bit nostalgic.

Seeing him silent, Lin Yilin put on a stern face, like a little teacher:

"Liking someone shouldn't be so casual, nor should it be so simple."

It was as if she was saying this to Jiang Linyuan, but also to herself.

Jiang Linyuan thought she was right. If liking someone was that simple, he wouldn't have to slave away trying to swipe his card.

But he couldn't say that, because it would undoubtedly be a tacit approval, a silent permission for things to go further.

"Like I said, Xiao Yilin, when it comes to dating, it depends on the person."

Jiang Linyuan said.

Lin Yilin bared her teeth in displeasure:

"Hmph, acting like this, Senior won't just be single for four years! You'll be single for the rest of your life!"

"Xiao Yilin, if it really turns out like you said, you'll have to compensate me."

"What—"

Lin Yilin seemed to think of something, and her face suddenly flushed red again.

She pulled up her collar to cover half her face, leaving only a pair of pretty eyes visible:

"I don't want a Senior like that."

Jiang Linyuan looked at her and suddenly said:

"Xiao Yilin, have you put on a bit of weight?"

"No, I haven't! It's just cold! I'm wearing more clothes!"

Lin Yilin said in shame and anger, glaring at Jiang Linyuan:

"Senior is so rude! Casually commenting on a girl's figure!"

"No, actually, what I meant to say was, Xiao Yilin is getting cuter and cuter. Before, you were a beautiful, slender white swan. But now that autumn's here, you've gained a bit of a cuddly, approachable charm."

Avoid the objective facts, focus on the subjective perspective. The modern art of conversation.

Perfect!

"Ugh..."

The little chuuni was indeed defenseless against that, her face turning red.

After hearing this, her eyes darted around, a little embarrassed:

"Senior just loves to say sweet, empty things."

With that, she edged a little closer to Jiang Linyuan and spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"I actually did gain a tiny bit of weight recently, but not much, just one pound..."

"My weight is still pretty healthy... but I really do need to watch my diet a bit more recently..."

What a good woman.

Listening to her voice right by his ear, Jiang Linyuan thought.

"Senior, are you even listening?"

"...I spaced out just now."

"Ugh! Why didn't you lie this time! I'm going to use an Unforgivable Curse on you!"

The two walked side by side, the wind on their shoulders, and above the wind, a cluster of sparkling stars. Distant stars whispered their hearts to each other.